1. joe
   Admin
   Posted 3 years ago #
   

   Can't believe I didn't hear about this until I read it in the paper this morning, but it looks like it just went up on the Union site yesterday:

   • 
     

     Cyclists Paving the Way is about sharing a more positive Toronto – and sharing is something that cyclists know all about. Though its true that bicycles are considered road vehicles under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act (HTA), the average cyclist is still paying more then their fair share to maintain the common road space.

     ...

     Via orange and brown appreciation cards, drivers will be reminded that daylight hours have begun to shift, and road surfaces are getting slicker. These cards will also emphasize that it is critical to be aware of all cyclists on the road. This time of year, there are fewer cyclists to help push awareness, so The Toronto Cyclists Union is taking a “Strength in Numbers” approach. More cyclists thanking drivers means more attentive drivers heading into winter, and ultimately, better and safer roads.

2. Duncan
   Moderator
   Posted 3 years ago #
   

   I really wish I'd been able to thank the two drivers (one who got out of his car) who decided that I didn't belong on the road this morning.

   To everyone else though, especially the lady who honked because she saw the speeding PT Cruiser coming up behind me, honestly, thank you.

   Duncan's City Ride - That's my blog about cycling in the city of Toronto, natch!

3. joe
   Admin
   Posted 3 years ago #
   

   Also in the Toronto Star:

   • 
     Cyclists make nice to drivers

     About 5,000 cards with the words "Thank You" have been printed for cyclists to give to deserving drivers, perhaps by tapping on the car window at a stop light, Bambrick said.

     A motorist who looks over his or her shoulder before swinging open their door into the street – sparing an oncoming cyclist the chance of collision – would qualify for a card, Bambrick says.

     It's "a chance for cyclists to thank the drivers who do see them, and do treat them with respect and as fellow citizens," she added.

     "We're trying to move away from the angry stuff that happened over the summer," she told a group at this weekend's BikeCamp T.O. event, which the union put on to discuss cycling issues.

     Full Article.
     

   Nice to see the Union is embracing the notion that positivity ALWAYS gets more results than negativity. It's a concept more cycling advocates should wake up to.

4. AnnieD
   Member
   Posted 3 years ago #
   

   I love the idea, though physically giving out cards might be hard to implement without seriously inconveniencing people. Maybe a little pop-up contraption on the handlebars? :)

5. joe
   Admin
   Posted 3 years ago #
   

   Good point Annie.

   The other thing is that cyclists and drivers are usually going somewhere, and often late... so I'm wondering how realistic it is to stop and hand out cards.

   But, having people on a corner watching for good behaviour and then giving the cards to drivers (if possible) sounds like it may work.

6. Duncan
   Moderator
   Posted 3 years ago #
   

   Maybe get "thank yous" printed on the back of t-shirts:

   "Thank you for giving me at least 3 feet when passing"
   "Thank you for not rushing ahead of me to make a quick right turn"
   "Thank you for seeing my hand signal and giving me space to change lanes"

   Or simply,

   "Thank you for respecting me"

   Duncan's City Ride - That's my blog about cycling in the city of Toronto, natch!

7. joe
   Admin
   Posted 3 years ago #
   

   NOW has a great article about this:

   • 
     Cycling in a new direction

     The Toronto Cyclists Union rolled out Cyclists Paving the Way, a make-nice campaign of 5,000 printed thank-you cards.

     “The idea is to flip all the negative stuff,” says Toronto Cyclists Union executive director Yvonne Bambrick. “People don’t like being told they’re doing something wrong.”

     Flipping negativity was theme conveyed at T.O. Bike Camp an un-conference held at the Centre for Social Innovation this past Saturday (post on that coming soon) with a focus on brainstorming a slew of routes to raise awareness and improve cycling in Toronto – with positivity at the core.

     As for the thank-you card timing, they were launched as a reminder that seasonal changes affect cyclist-driver interactions through the earlier onset of dusk, precarious wet leaves, and the simple fact than many Torontonians don’t only cycle in ideal summer months.
     

   Also, a video:

   Get the Video Player

8. Patch
   Member
   Posted 3 years ago #
   

   Re Maybe get "thank yous" printed on the back of t-shirts: Duncan I love this idea! I would really like to do something to foster better relations as well and I'd pay for a tee-shirt, OR a sign or both. I've often gone out for a bike ride, feeling really good and I've often returned home feeling felt that Toronto streets really are "mean streets" and "wow! they really DO hate us". I try not to write or talk it up too much because it just makes for more bad feelings toward cyclists. I especially like this one "Thank you for giving me at least 3 feet when passing".

9. Angus
   Member
   Posted 3 years ago #
   

   Nice video!
   The thoughtful and considerate drivers always outnumber those who aren't. It's a good idea to smile and wave to show your appreciation to those who look out for us, it makes us both feel better.

10. AnnieD
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #
    

    I like the 3ft one too - that's one of my biggest peeves and having a bunch of cyclists sporting that message might help educate drivers and get people talking. Not sure how much of my back is visible when I'm hunched over my handlebars. For over a year I taped the Bikelanes on Bloor flag to the frame of my bike because I found the flag flapping in the wind too annoying, so a flag wouldn't be a good option either. Ideally, I'd like something that attaches to the rack at the back of my bike.

    How long before drivers start posting bumper stickers that say "Thank you for not passing on my right when I am signalling my intention to turn right" or pedestrians with t-shirts saying "Thank you for not riding through the crosswalk"?

11. joe
    Admin
    Posted 3 years ago #
    

    It's a fantastic idea... if we can design a good looking shirt, we can see it alongside the I Bike T.O. shirts on the BikingToronto online shop.

12. Ryan Thomas
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #
    

    Joe,

    My names Ryan Thomas and I'm with the company that helped get the thank you project off the ground.
    I'll be at the fund raising gala for the TCU on the 28th.

    (http://bikeunion.to/sites/tcu/files/fundraiser-2009/emailer.html)

    I'd love to talk about how we can help get those shirts made!

    Great to see a forum full of positive thinkers and doers.

13. joe
    Admin
    Posted 3 years ago #
    

    HI Ryan, I'm not sure if I'm going to make the gala yet, but it would be great to connect with you on some shirt possibilities. I think a strong graphic design for them is essential.

14. misslynx
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #
    

    I'm kind of with Annie on the thank you cards thing - while it sounds like a lovely idea, and I can think of a number of recent times when drivers have done nice things I'd have liked to be able thank them for, I just don't see how trying to hand them little cards could work well in practice. In most of the circumstances when you'd want to give one to someone, you're both out in traffic, in motion, and there's really no good way to do it. I think usually a smile and wave is a little more practical.

    BTW, my favourite nice-driver story lately: I was on Davenport trying to turn left onto Symington, and I'd gone into the left turn lane because traffic didn't seem too heavy and often at that intersection I can actually manage to turn left "properly". But as soon as I was there, it seemed like traffic coming the other way got heavier, so I couldn't actually turn, and was stuck there through a couple of changes of the light - and a car came up behind me, also wanting to turn left. After a minute the driver behind me rolled down his window and popped his head out, and I sort of braced myself to get yelled at, since I'm sure he wasn't very happy to be stuck behind me. But instead, he called out in a friendly tone "Try moving a little further out into the intersection - they'll be able to see you better and someone might let you through. And if you do get a break, you'll be able to take advantage of it easier." So I did, and it worked - we both got through just before the light turned yellow again. It was just such a nice surprise to not only have a driver be actively helpful, but to have him do that when I was expecting him to be angry. (And yes, I did call out "Thank you!" as he passed.)

15. Angus
    Member
    Posted 3 years ago #
    

    I think this campaign is more for the media than us, it isn't very practical.
    You can't easily hand people a card because nobody drives with their window down. We're usually on the passenger side, only in complete gridlock can you get off your bike and walk around to give them a card.

16. joe
    Admin
    Posted 3 years ago #
    

    The Post has a lengthy article about this campaign, the Union's newcomer outreach campaign, and Dandyhorse magazine:

    • 
      

      In the Toronto Cyclists Union’s eyes, the tense atmosphere poses as much of a challenge to its 800 or so members as anything else.

      Executive director Yvonne Bambrick said the Thank You campaign, launched this past week, was in part inspired by media coverage of the Bryant-Sheppard altercation. She recalled doing “about 50 media interviews” pegged to it.

      Switch Advertising, an agency doing pro bono work for the union, reviewed the coverage and realized Bambrick’s message was more positive than drivers might expect.

      “From that, they came up with this idea for the thank-you card,” she said. “ [It’s] to amplify the positive messaging I was trying to get across, not to get stuck in the negative.”

      Wary of drivers who could be jumpy around cyclists waving cards around, Bambrick said delivery instructions are posted on the union’s site. “We’re suggesting that cyclists present it with the ‘thank you’ towards the driver. And a big smile.”

      The cards can be picked up at locations listed on the union’s website.

      Spreading the message with more words than a postcard allows for is Dandyhorse, a magazine for Toronto cyclists started a year and a half ago and now three issues into its life.

      Managing editor Dana Lacey said Dandyhorse isn’t preaching to the converted — and in the first place, she said, “We really try hard not to preach.” As a community, she said, “I don’t think [cyclists] have a good voice. We try to stay away from the blowhards who just make us look like yahoos.

      Read more: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2009/10/24/cyclists-campaign-to-sooth-tensions-with-drivers-but-will-it-work.aspx#ixzz0V3BiObXo

    
    

17. toddtyrtle
    Moderator
    Posted 3 years ago #
    

    It's a little cynical but at the same time, I think, pretty close to spot on. The Toronto Star's Catherine Porter explains why she hasn't been giving out "Thank You" cards. I won't spoil her ending but I really like the other idea she has...

18. joe
    Admin
    Posted 3 years ago #
    

    Interesting opinion piece about this from Catherine Porter in the Star:

    • 
      A new path to peace needed for cars, cyclists

      

      Here's my take on the car-bicycle war in this city. There is no war. Everyone outside a car hates everyone inside one. And every driver hates everyone outside – bikes, pedestrians, buses, other cars. They are all in the way. I get this way too behind the wheel, except I'm mindful of cyclists.

      Technically, I'm not supposed to speed down the thin ribbon that opens between cars and the curb. But even the cops acknowledge that's a silly law. This makes for confusion. When that black SUV roars by and then French kisses the curb, blocking me, is the driver breaking the law or being just plain rude?

      ...

      If the cycling union really wants to convert drivers, it should be printing up bumper stickers, not cards.

      Mine would say: [i]"I bike too. Be nice to cyclists."

      [/i]

19. toddtyrtle
    Moderator
    Posted 3 years ago #
    

    Looks like a motorist is trying a similar thing. I bet it wouldn't be too hard to make a jacket or reflective vest that worked the same way.

    
    

    via theimaginaryzebra.blogspot.com

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